Brake questions...
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 145
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From: Dothan, Alabama
Brake questions...
I have a 78 f150..today when i cranked up my truck the brake light wouldn't go off...so I pumped the brakes for a couple secs and it went off.. Then when driving the brakes went spongy..brakes still worked but spongy...and couple secs later it was back to normal... I visually expected all my brake lines..they all looked fine.. I inspected my brake shoes in the front and plenty of pad...I have not taken off my drums in the back yet but plan on doing it tomorrow..
I did see this tho...I dont know what it is..
It is leaking..very slow leak...but I do not know if it would account for the problem I had today..
I also checked my brake reseviour and it was full.. im guessing I need to bleed my brakes?? anything else I need to do?? Is it safe for me to drive??
I did see this tho...I dont know what it is..
It is leaking..very slow leak...but I do not know if it would account for the problem I had today..
I also checked my brake reseviour and it was full.. im guessing I need to bleed my brakes?? anything else I need to do?? Is it safe for me to drive??
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 14,333
Likes: 247
From: Stanley, VA
Could be a bad master cylinder, leak in picture above could be the switch that's screwed in the top of the proportioning valve, a very common problem with Fords. The switch is still available. Also check the rear brake adjustment and look to see if the rear wheel cylinders are leaking.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 7,182
Likes: 380
From: Near Los Angeles
By the amount of fluid around the p. valve, I would suspect the m.cylinder is leaking onto it. With a good light in hand, wipe a finger on each of the b.lines coming out of the m.cylinder, and between cylinder and booster, and see if there is a drop.
If it is the p.valve, they run over $200 for replacement. But you can get an after-market adjustable p.valve for about $50. If you go that route, it means replacing the line to the valve.
Spongy brakes mean air in the lines. Healthy brakes--without sponge feeling--don't get spongy for no reason. You need to find where the air is getting in, and the fluid is getting out. Have a friend pump brakes, with engine running, while you watch with a flashlight, each of the line fittings on the p. valve.
If it is the p.valve, they run over $200 for replacement. But you can get an after-market adjustable p.valve for about $50. If you go that route, it means replacing the line to the valve.
Spongy brakes mean air in the lines. Healthy brakes--without sponge feeling--don't get spongy for no reason. You need to find where the air is getting in, and the fluid is getting out. Have a friend pump brakes, with engine running, while you watch with a flashlight, each of the line fittings on the p. valve.
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1badsupercab
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Nov 10, 2009 01:30 PM
